Track Listing
1. Big Train
2. Against the 70's
3. Drove up From Pedro
4. Piss-Bottle Man
5. Chinese Firedrill
6. Intense Song For Madonna to Sing
7. Tuff Gnarl
8. Sexual Military Dynamics
9. Max and Wells
10. E-Ticket Ride
11. Forever / One Reporter's Opinion
12. Song For Igor
13. Tell 'Em, Boy!
14. Sidemouse Advice
15. Heartbeat
16. Maggot Brain
17. Coincidence Is Either Hit or Miss
| Details | | Playing Time: | 68 min. | | Contributing Artists: | Adam Horovitz, Dave Grohl, Dave Pirner, Eddie Vedder, Flea, J Mascis, Krist Novoselic, Mike D, Thurston Moore | | Producer: | Mike Watt | | Distributor: | Sony Music Distribution ( | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
This limited edition comes in an oversized package with extra graphics and an 8-page "Pedro Speak" booklet, which is a glossary of Watt's lingo.
Personnel: Mike Watt (vocals, bass), Vince Meghrouni (vocals, tenor saxophone, drums, percussion), Coco Hayley Gordon Moore, Mario Caldato, Tiffany Anders (vocals), Keith McCaw (acoustic guitar), Zander Schloss, Butler, Todd Rigione (guitar), Spot (mandolin, viola), Tony Maxwell (cello), Ronda Rindone (bass clarinet), Tony Atherton (alto saxophone), Paul Roessler (piano), Michael Preussner, Bob Lee, Wayne Griffin, Brock Avery, John Molo, Richie West (drums), Danny Frankel (percussion).
Additional guest artists: Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley, Pat Smear, Stephen Perkins, Mark Lanegan, Gary Lee Conner, Evan Dando, John Strohm, Kathleen Hanna, Henry Rollins, Cris Kirkwood, Curt Kirkwood, Bernie Worrell, Joe Baiza, Frank Black, Epic Soundtracks, Nels Cline, Carla Bozulich, Petra Haden, Anna Waronker, Rachel Haden.
Engineers: John Hanlon (tracks 1-13, 15-17); Rob Seifert (track 14).
Recorded at Cherokee, West Hollywood, California; Robert Land Studio, Seattle, Washington; Baby Monster, New York; The Clubhouse, Burbank, California; Aire LA, Glendale, California between May 29 and September 11, 1994.
All songs written or co-written by Mike Watt except "Big Train" (Tony Kinman/Chip Kinman), "Tuff Gnarl" (Sonic Youth) and "Maggot Brain" (George Clinton/Eddie Hazel).
Mike Watt was a key figure in the development of American independent music in the 1980s, and his solo debut is a gathering of musicians from different parts of the current "alternative" scene who were influenced or inspired by the bassist's past work with the Minutemen and fIREHOSE. Recorded over a four-month span at studios in New York, Seattle and Los Angeles, BALL-HOG OR TUGBOAT? has Watt keeping a low profile (by choice), while rotating line-ups of musicians take a crack at his compositions. Lemonhead Evan Dando's understated singing complements The Who-inspired "Piss-Bottle Man," and Beastie Boy Mike D spins a fluid rap on "E-Ticket Ride."
While his singular bass playing is present throughout, Watt sings only on the album's opening track, "Big Train," where he's backed by the Kirkwood brothers (Meat Puppets), Dave Grohl (Nirvana), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) and J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)--how's that for a backing band? Still, the ultimate superstar grouping may be the trio of Watt, Mascis and keyboardist Bernie Worrell covering Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain," which includes Watt mouthing George Clinton's opening refrain and Mascis tearing the song up with some of his most emotive playing. This indescribable cover alone makes BALL-HOG OR TUGBOAT? well worth the price of admission.
Editorial Reviews
4 Stars - Excellent - ...Watt's playful, poignant persona pervades the record as the rest of the musicians, especially the singers, inhabit a musical universe he has created, unifying BALL-HOG's eclectic wanderings...
Rolling Stone (03/23/1995)
...one of BALL-HOG OR TUGBOAT?'s biggest kicks is hearing other singers attempt to duplicate the Watt rumble. Most convincing: Henry Rollins on the Beefheart-esque 'Sexual Military Dynamics' and Evan Dando on the rough pop gem 'Piss-Bottle Man'....If you like the low end, you'll have a blast...
Musician (05/01/1995)
...a consistently superb album...
Option (05/01/1995)
...one of BALL-HOG OR TUGBOAT?'s biggest kicks is hearing other singers attempt to duplicate the Watt rumble. Most convincing: Henry Rollins on the Beefheart-esque 'Sexual Military Dynamics' and Evan Dando on the rough pop gem 'Piss-Bottle Man'....If you like the low end, you'll have a blast...
Musician (05/01/1995)
...An alternative all-star cast joins the legendary indie pioneer for a hyper-hyphenated mix of styles....The lovable mess sometimes turns into aimless noodling, but it's a good indication of what indie rock was, is, and still could be...
Entertainment Weekly
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